What cannot you and I perform upon

The unguarded Duncan ? what not put upon

His spungy officers; who shall bear the guilt

Of our great quell ?

Macb.

Bring forth men-children only!

For thy undaunted mettle should compose

Nothing but males. Will it not be receiv'd,

When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two

Of his own chamber, and us'd their very daggers,

That they have done't?

Lady M.

Who dares receive it other,

As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar

Upon his death?

Mach.

I am settled, and bend up

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

Away, and mock the time with fairest show :

False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

[Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE I.

The Same. Court within the Castle.

Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE; and a Servant, with a torch before them.

Ban. How goes the night, boy?

Fle. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.

Ban. And she goes down at twelve.

Fle.

I take't, 'tis later, sir. Ban. Hold, take my sword:-There's husbandry

in heaven,

Their candles are all out. -Take thee that too.
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep: Merciful powers!
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts, that nature
Gives way to in repose 27!-Give me my sword ;-

Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch.

Who's there?

Macb. A friend.

Ban. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed :

He hath been in unusual pleasure, and

Sent forth great largess to your offices :

This diamond he greets your wife withal,

By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up

In measureless content.

Macb.

Being unprepar'd,

Our will became the servant to defect;

Which else should free have wrought.
Ban.

All's well.

I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters :

To you they have show'd some truth.

Macb.

I think not of them:

Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,

Would spend it in some words upon that business,

If you would grant the time.

Ban.

At your kind'st leisure.

Macb. If you shall cleave to my consent, when

'tis,

It shall make honour for you.
Ban.

So I lose none,

In seeking to augment it, but still keep

My bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear,

I shall be counsel'd.

Macb.

Good repose, the while! Ban. Thanks, sir; The like to you! [Exit Banquo. Mach. Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is

ready,

She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.

[Exit Servant.

Is this a dagger, which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch

thee:

I have thee not; and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible

To feeling, as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind; a false creation,

Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.

Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use.

Mine eyes are made the fools o'the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest: I see thee still;
And on thy blade, and dudgeon, gouts of blood 28,
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:
It is the bloody business, which informs
Thus to mine eyes.-Now o'er the one half world
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse
The curtain'd sleep; now witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd murder,
Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf,
Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design
Moves like a ghost. - Thou sure and firm-set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my where-about,
And take the present horror from the time,
Which now suits with it.-Whiles I threat, he lives;
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.

[A bell rings.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

The Same.

Enter Lady MACBETH.

Lady M. That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold :

What hath quench'd them, hath given me fire:

Hark!-Peace!

It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman, Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it: The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms

Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd

their possets,

That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live, or die.

Macb. [Within.] Who's there?-what, ho!
Lady M. Alack! I am afraid they have awak'd,
And 'tis not done: -the attempt, and not the deed,
Confounds us :-Hark!-I laid their daggers ready,
He could not miss them. - Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't 29. -My husband?

Enter MACВЕТН.

Macb. I have done the deed: -Didst thou not hear a noise?

Lady M. I heard the owl scream, and the crickets

cry.

Did not you speak?